Pencil



Jan. 12, 1937. A MA 2,067,466

PENCIL Filed April 8, 1936 v Fig.1. F g.1 6 F33.

Patented Jan. 12, 1937 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE PENCIL York Application April 8, 1936, Serial No. 73,203

7 Claims.

This invention relates to pencils and the manufacture thereof.

It is an object of the invention to provide a pencil with an outer finish, of novel type, having many advantages over the finishes ordinarily applied.

A preferred embodiment of the invention selected for purposes of illustration is shown in the accompanying drawing, in which,

Figure 1 is a side elevation of an unfinished pencil casing.

Figure 2 is a plan View of a covering sheet.

Figure 3 is a side elevation of a finished pencil with the covering sheet secured thereto.

According to the customary method of manufacturing the conventional wooden cased pencil, the wooden casing is formed in two parts, the lead is inserted in a groove and after the two parts are glued together the outer surface of the pencil is then sanded in order to smooth it preparatory to applying the outer finish. Heretofore the said outer finish has comprised Various materials such as paint, varnish or lacquer which are applied in liquid form. It is customary to apply several coats of whatever coating material is used, as many as eight coats being applied sometimes in order to provide the desired finish.

Subsequently, printing is usually applied to the finished surface of the pencil, as for example, the name of the manufacturer, or advertising matter of various sorts, but because it is difficult to print accurately on the previously painted, varnished or lacquered surfaces and because it is difiicult to obtain accurate detail on small cylindrical, polygonal or irregular surfaces such printing has been much restricted in extent.

According to the present invention, I propose to apply adhesively to the outer surface of the wooden casing of the pencil a covering in sheet form, in place of the finish coatings of paint or the like heretofore applied.

In most types of pencils now manufactured, it is customary to impregnate the Wooden casing or the lead or both with certain materials which improve the quality of the pencil. Sometimes the impregnating materials used for this purpose have a tendency under certain conditions to flow and evaporate or dissipate themselves through the pores of the wood unless prevented from doing so. It is highly desirable to maintain under all circumstances, and over a period of time, the condition of the wood and lead of such pencils as originally manufactured and to prevent or at least retard the loss of impregnating material through the walls of the wooden casing. Accordingly, I prefer to use sheet material which is moisture tight or substantially impervious to the passage of moisture in either direction, that is, either out of or into the pencil. I intend to incllide within the term moisture tight sheet material, not only sheet material which is inherently moisture tight, but also sheet material which by treatment either before or after attachment to the pencil, is rendered impervious to the passage of moisture.

The sheet material employed for this purpose may be of various types, but in the preferred embodiment of the invention I use metal foil such as aluminum foil, for example, which possesses many special advantages for the purpose. Thus, in addition to providing a moisture tight covering or finish, the foil provides a smooth metallic outer surface for the pencil which does not easily become sticky by exposure to perspiration from the hand of the user. It has considerable tensile strength and consequently strengthens the wooden casing, making possible either a reduction in the thickness of the wooden casing without weakening the finished pencil, or an extra strong pencil if the original casing size is maintained. It also provides an excellent surface for printing.

A commercial form of metal foil is available in which the foil is adhesively secured to a paper backing sheet. This form of sheet material is particularly satisfactory, for it is easy to handle and, furthermore, the paper surface can easily be caused to adhere tightly to the surface of the wooden casing.

In the manufacture of pencils according to my invention, the outer surface of the wooden casing is preferably not sanded, but is left rough or unfinished, not only because it is not necessary to smooth the wooden surface in order to produce a smooth outer surface after the covering sheet is positioned, but also because the sheet material will adhere and maintain its adhesion more tightly to a rough surface.

Referring now to the drawing, a sheet I of material suitable for covering the Wooden casing is illustrated, it being understood that the said sheet is preferably metal foil with paper backing, the printed matter 2 being on the exposed surface of the metal foil. Because the printing is applied to a fiat surface it is possible to print or lithograph accurately in the most minute detail.

The said sheets are preferably rectangular in shape and are wrapped around the casing 3 in such manner as to extend around the outer surface of the casing with the longitudinal edges parallel to each other and to the axis of the casing. The said sheets should completely envelop the circumference of the casing and extend along a substantial portion of its length. Due to the fact that it is diflicult, except at undue cost, to produce wooden casings of exactly equal diameter, it is preferable that the width of the sheets I be somewhat greater than the circumference of the casing to be covered in order that there may be an overlap as shown at 4 in Figure 3- so as to avoid the possibility of a gap between the edges of the sheet if the casing varies in diameter.

Due to this overlap, making it necessary for the overlapping portion to adhere to the metal surface beneath, rather than to a wood surface,

it is advisable to employ a special-glue which will;

obtained at first, after the glue dries and becomes hardened, there may be a tendency for the surfaces to separate. A satisfactory glue for the purpose may comprise 32 parts high grade animal glue, 32 parts water, 6 parts glycerine and 1 part acid such as phosphoric acid. Such glue may be applied in liquid form at the time the covering sheets are secured to the wooden casings. If it is desired that the sheets should be pre-coated with adhesive so that such sheets may be attached to the casings by merely moistem'ng the pre-coated surface, the same mixture may be used except that the acid is omitted. However, a small amount of acid maybe advantageously added to the water used for moistening. Other known adhesives which will. provide the desired bonds may be used.

In the manufacture of pencils according to my invention the wooden casing is prepared by any accepted method, but is preferably not sanded or otherwise smoothed. The covering sheets are printed with the desired indicia and are then cut to the desired size, although the sheets may be out before printing, if desired. Subsequently the. sheets are wrapped around the wooden casings and are secured thereto by any suitable adhesive material either in liquid form or pre-coated and moistened as previously explained.

It will be observed that metal foil provides a metal covering for the outside of the pencil comparable to a metal plating. The said covering is not only moisture tight, but also adds materially to the strength of the pencil. It also provides a surface. which, it itself, is not only attractive in appearance, but which can be readily printed in attractive designs.

It will be understood that the term pencil as used herein includes various types of wooden cased crayon and lead pencils. It will also be understood that wooden pen holders and wooden casings for fountain pens may be finished in the same manner and are included within the term pencil as used herein.

It will be understood that the invention may be variously modified and embodied within the scope of the subjoined claims.

I claim as my invention:

l. A pencil comprising a wooden casing and an outer covering of metal foil, said metal foil being secured adhesively to the outer surface of the casing and enveloping completely the circumference of the casing along a substantial portion of its length.

2. A pencil comprising a wooden casing and an outer covering of paper backed metal foil, said paper backing being secured adhesively to the outer surface of the casing and the metal foil serving as the outermost covering of the casing, completely enveloping the circumference of the casing along a substantial portion of its length.

3. A pencil comprising a wooden casing and an outer covering of metal foil rectangular in shape, said metal foil extending around the surface of the casing with the longitudinal edges parallel to each other and to the axis of the casing, said metal foil being secured adhesively to the outer surface of the casing and enveloping completely the circumference of the casing along a substantial portion of its length.

4. A pencil comprising a wooden casing and an outer covering of metal foil, rectangular in shape, said metal foil extending around the surface of the casing with the longitudinal edges parallel to each other and to the axis of the casing, said metal foil being secured adhesively to the outer surface of the casing, the longitudinal edges of said metal foil being overlapped with the overlapping portion of the foil adhesively secured to the;underlying portion thereof.

5. A pencil comprising a wooden casing, and an outer covering of metal foil, said metal foil being adhesively secured to the outer surface of the casing, the edges of said metal foil being overlapped with the overlapping portion of the foil adhesively secured to the underlying portion thereof.

6. A pencil comprising a wooden casing and an outer covering of paper backed metal foil, said paper backing being adhesively secured to the outer surface of the casing and the metal foilserving as the outer covering of the casing, the edges of said paper backed metal foil being overlapped with the overlapping portion of the paper backing adhesively secured to the underered with metal foil, said metal foil being adhesively secured to said surface.

MERVYN A.. THOMAS. 

